Introduction:

The Govt. of India has introduced the National Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2020) to transform the education system in the country. The policy has the aim to change the traditional education pattern which has been implemented since British Rule and give a relevant world competent structure to the education system of the nation. According to this policy, the Govt. of Maharashtra published a GR dated 20th April 2023 to clarify on the various rules and regulations and advise to all autonomous colleges to stick up with it.

Salient Features of NEP2020

The National Education Policy 2020 (NEP2020) in India brings several significant changes compared to the prevalent education policy at the time of its introduction. Here are some key differences between the prevalent education policy and NEP2020:

• Multidisciplinary Approach: NEP 2020 promotes a multidisciplinary approach to education, encouraging students to choose subjects across different disciplines and bridging the gap between arts, sciences, and humanities.
• Reduction in Content Overload: NEP 2020 emphasizes reducing the content overload in the curriculum to focus on core concepts and critical thinking rather than rote memorization.
• Skill Development and Vocational Education: NEP 2020 places significant importance on skill development and vocational education, aiming to provide students with practical skills and promote entrepreneurship.
• Assessment Reforms: NEP 2020 advocates for a shift in assessment methods, aiming to move away from high-stakes examinations and focus on a more comprehensive and holistic assessment of student understanding and skills.
• Inclusion and Equity: NEP 2020 emphasizes inclusion and equity in education, aiming to address gender and social disparities, provide equal opportunities for marginalized communities, and promote inclusive education for students with disabilities.
• Research and Innovation: NEP 2020 recognizes the importance of research and innovation in education, encouraging the establishment of research centers and promoting a culture of research among students and teachers.
• Internationalization: NEP 2020 recognizes the significance of internationalization in education. It encourages collaborations and exchange programs between Indian and foreign institutions, promoting global exposure and cross-cultural learning.
• Implementation: NEP 2020 is being gradually implemented across educational institutions in India, including Swami Ramanand Teerth Marathwada University, Nanded. All the proposed changes may take time to fully integrate, but the policy aims to create a more inclusive, flexible, and relevant education system.

Undergraduate Education at Rajarshi Shahu Mahavidyalaya, in accordance with NEP 2020:

Rajarshi Shahu Mahavidyalaya, Latur (Autonomous), the higher educational institute of Shiv Chhatrapati Shikshan Sanstha, was established in 1970. At the beginning, the institute had gone through a chain of adverse situations and a tuff journey for a decade. We are now known for academic autonomy, plurality, peculiarity and leadership. Our experiments, excellence and the tradition of merit in education have created the ‘Shahu Pattern of Education’.The list of illustrious alumni is long and the college takes pride in their achievements in the national as well as global social, cultural, industrial and science arenas.

Keeping the tenets and recommendations about the NEP2020 from the UGC, along with adhering to the directives from the Maharashtra State – Department of Higher and Technical Education, the college has prepared a comprehensive undergraduate and postgraduate curricular structure. This new structure also adheres to the key values of Innovation, Integration, and Inclusion.

Curriculum framework of NEP 2020:

Major Subject: A single subject course of study pursued by a student as a mandatory requirement of the programme of study. Indian knowledge system (IKS) to be included in the core courses. Elective Course: An elective course could be a project designed to acquire skills to supplement the major study.

Minor Subject: A second subject of study pursued by a student as an additional requirement of the programme of study.

Open Elective (OE): An elective course chosen generally from an unrelated discipline/subject, to seek multidisciplinary exposure.

Ability Enhancement Course (AEC): Mandatory Courses on content related to Linguistics & Communication Skills, and Literature (i) Compulsory – English communication (ii) Elective – any Indian language other than English.

Vocational Skill Course (VSC): Courses aimed at imparting practical skills, hands-on training, and soft skills to increase the employability of students. Specific or supporting the major subject is to be chosen from a basket/pool offered by the college.

Skill Enhancement Course (SEC): Courses aimed at imparting practical skills, hands-on training, and soft skills to increase students' employability. It could be chosen from a basket/pool offered by the college or a MOOC on Swayam or NPTEL platforms.

On-Job Training(OJT)/Internship/Field Project (FP)/Community Engagement Programme (CEP) Research Project (RP): Application of knowledge/concepts in solving or analyzing a real-life problem. All these are related to the major subject.

Co-curricular Course (CC): For the holistic development of students through Cultural activities such as performing art, visual art, NCC, NSS, Yoga, etc.

Value Education Course (VEC): Compulsory courses on (i) The Constitution of India and (ii) Fostering Social Responsibility & Community Engagement iii) Environmental Education.

The tables below contain the planned quantum of courses that will be offered under the Arts, Science, and Commerce (grant-in-aid) programs starting from June 2023. The total credits that a student will collect in each semester is 22. This is as per the directives of Maharashtra State. A student is free to exit at the end of each academic year as depicted in the table below.

On successful completion of three years and obtaining 132 credits, a student can opt for an exit with a bachelor’s degree in their domain, e.g., B.Sc./B.A./B.Com.

On successful completion of the UG fourth year (PG I) and obtaining 176 credits, a student will get a Bachelor’s Degree with Honors.

If a student opts for an Honors degree by Research, the eligibility criteria will be at the discretion of the College.